Harvest Salad Fall Twist On A Classic Cobb Salad Wellplated Com

We almost never eat salad for dinner at home, but since a Cobb is the one-and-only salad that Ben considers “real food,” I decided to make a version of it for our main meal. I kept the Cobb essentials—bacon, chicken, avocado, and hard-boiled eggs—then incorporated a few of my favorite fall ingredients to give the salad a harvest twist.

Alongside the classic Cobb ingredients, today’s Cobb has roasted butternut squash, apples, cranberries, and toasted pepitas.I swapped the blue cheese for goat cheese, then topped it off with a creamy cider Dijon dressing.

It’s undeniably delicious and will turn your lunch hour from drab to absolutely FAB. The play of flavors and textures in this Autumn harvest salad is outstanding. We have the crunchiness of the bacon and pepitas, the creaminess of the avocado and goat cheese, the satisfaction factor of the chicken and eggs, plus the sweetness and chew of the cranberries. I happily devoured this autumn-inspired Cobb for lunch and dinner on the same day. In addition to being a salad that satisfies, this winter harvest salad recipe feels special enough to grace a holiday table (Thanksgiving Cobb salad anyone?).

How to Make Harvest Salad

Hearty and full of seasonal flavors, this fall harvest salad recipe is a meal everyone at your table will love! The ingredients are simple and healthy, so you can feel good about enjoying this tasty salad on repeat.

The Ingredients

Mixed Greens. Romaine, spinach, arugula, or baby kale (or a combination of these) will work well for this salad. Butternut Squash. My go-to veggie in the fall. Once roasted, butternut squash has a wonderfully sweet, caramelized flavor. Plus, it’s rich in vitamins and fiber. Bacon. Crispy bacon pieces are a foolproof way to make any salad a crowd-pleaser.

Hard-Boiled Eggs. A delicious, protein-rich salad addition. This Instant Pot Boiled Eggs recipe is an easy way to make them.Chicken Breast. Cooked boneless, skinless chicken breast is my favorite way to bulk up a salad in a healthy way. It adds lean protein and heartiness. Apple. Sweet, crisp, refreshing, and healthy. Apples are packed with fiber and vitamin C. Avocado. Since this is a twist on a Cobb salad, we can’t forget the avocado. It helps make the salad satisfying.

Cranberries. For beautiful color and sweetness. Goat Cheese. Creamy, tangy goat cheese is marvelous with the fall flavors in this salad.Pepitas. Nutty and crunchy. Dijon Cider Maple Dressing. With apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, and maple syrup, this dressing is light, bright, and sweet. It’s flavorful but allows the other ingredients to shine.

The Directions

Storage Tips

To Store. Refrigerate leftover salad in an airtight storage container for up to 3 days.

Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe

Baking Sheet. You’ll need this and an oven-safe baking rack for baking the bacon.Indoor Grill Pan. If you choose to follow my easy Grilled Chicken Breast, this pan works great for the stovetop. Instant Read Thermometer. The easiest way to check your chicken for doneness.